By SHERRI KOLADE
Times-Herald Newspapers
HEIGHTS — Republican Kerry Bentivolio was chosen during a special primary election Sept. 5 to run against Democrat David Curson in the Nov. 6 general election.

Bentivolio, of Milford, beat out five other Republicans in the primary race with 10,280 votes. Former state Sen. Nancy Cassis of Novi -his closest competitor- got 8,804 votes. Carolyn Kavanagh received 2,654 votes, Steve King, received 1,715 votes and Kenneth Crider received 1,208 votes.

Bentivolio and Curson are vying to fill former U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter’s (D-11th District) seat after he resigned July 6

after asking to be removed from the Aug. 6 Republican primary ballot after he found out about a number of invalid nominating petition signatures.

Whoever wins after the Nov. 6 election will have about a month to finish out the rest of McCotter’s term in the current 11th district, which expires Dec. 31.

On Nov. 6, voters can cast their vote for the the new 11th District. Voters will also vote for U.S. representatives in the newly drawn 12th and 13th congressional districts. Two-year terms in those districts begin Jan. 3. Bentivolio will face Democratic Canton Township Trustee Syed Taj in that race.

The newly-formed 11th district includes a small section of western Wayne and a bigger portion of Oakland County that includes Birmingham, Troy and Bloomfield Hills.

Bentivolio is a war veteran and teacher of military service, according to his website http://www.bentivolioforcongress.com.

For the past 39 years Curson served as a UAW Representative and is currently an executive assistant to Secretary Treasurer Dennis Williams, according to www.cursonforcongress.com.